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| A video message from our Chairman Alan Pettigrew and an introduction to our Chieftain for 2010 Cecilia Templeton. | The success of Ardrossan Highland Games is helped by the many sponsors and contributers as well as the committee. Here is a video which introduces the trophies for the new Bellows Pipes (Small Pipes) competitions and the new Solo Highland Pipes competitions |
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A guide to the day's events…
10.00am Highland Dancing Competition-Primary, Beginners and Novice...
11.30am Heavy Events Ladies Competition
12.30pm Children's Services Towdabout & Tadpull.
12.30pm Opening Parade
12.45pm Formal Opening of the Games by Chieftain Cecelia Templeton
1.00pm Pipe Band Contest.
1.00pm Juvenile Solo Piping
1.00pm Heavy Events Competition for the Wallace Larder Trophy.
1.00pm Small pipes Competition
1.30pm Ku o Buddhist Association (Lion Dance)
1.45pm Street Dance St Anthony's Primary School
2.00pm Street Dance Club Saltcoats / Ardrossan Academy
2.15pm Ardrossan Accies Skills Training.
2.30pm Display Owl Magic
2.30pm Heavies 56lb Weight for Height.
2.45pm Ardrossan Academy Band
3.00pm Haggis Hurling Invitation Event.
3.15pm Chieftains Kilted Sprint.
3.30pm Drum Majors Competition.
4.00pm Heavies Tossing the Caber
5.00pm March Past of Bands & Presentation of Prizes.
Ardrossan Highland Games
Chieftain for 2010 is Cecilia Templeton
Cecilia is seen here with the games Chairman Alan Pettigrew.
Cecilia is the games first ever lady chieftain!
Cecilia Templeton has lived in Stevenston for many years but is originally from Saltcoats . She is well known throughout the Three Towns as she has been a school nurse in the area for the last 17 years. She began her nurse training in the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow in 1962 and retired from school nursing last year.
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Dusty is a local folk singer and was Chieftain of Ardrossan Highland Games in 2004. Check out his new CD - all funds from which will go to charity.
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Situated on the West Coast of Scotland, around 30 miles south west of Glasgow, Ardrossan has hosted a highland games since 1979. The games have always been held on the Second Sunday in June and are now located on the field of Ardrossan Academicals Rugby Football Club located on the border of the town with Saltcoats. The first Ardrossan Highland Games took place in June 1979 and have taken place almost every year since. The games are organised by a group of hard working volunteers from the local area who manage to create one of the major annual events in North Ayrshire.
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Post code for Sat Nav and directions software: KA22 8AP |
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A brief history of the highland games in Scotland
Highland Games date back to the reign of King Malcolm the third who reigned in Scotland from 1057 to 1093.
Malcolm came to the throne after he had avenged the death of his father by slaying Mac beth at the battle of Lumphanon on the 15th of August 1057. Following the battle, Malcolm decided to have a foot race up the scenic slopes of Craig Connich close to the village of Aberdeen. The fastest were enlisted to be his couriers to relay messages across the glen. This contest is described as being the first Highland Gathering.
The clan chieftains had their gatherings, to select their champions. The best in the strength and throwing events became his bodyguards or his henchmen the fastest became their couriers.Pipers and dancers added to the entertainment of the games.
After the defeat in 1746 at the battle of Culloden the “ACT OF PROSCRITION” was introduced banning the carrying of arms, wearing of the Kilt, playing the bagpipes, and any gathering of persons. If caught the guilty would be deported or voluntary sent to the colonies and enforced executions. Most of these cultural traditions were kept behind closed doors.
The first society Gatherings was held in Falkirk in 1781 this encouraged other games /gatherings to be held and the revival of the gatherings as we know it today. In 1848 Queen Victoria visited the Braemar Gathering and to this day royalty still visits annually. Ceres Highland Games is said to be the oldest games existing today, dating back from 1314 just after the Battle of Bannock burn. These games are still held on their traditional day the last Saturday in June.
The famous Cowal Gathering is the largest and most prestigious games in the world today. Over a 1000 pipers and hundreds of dancers from all over the world come to compete at the Cowal Gathering. Traditional heavy events also take place attracting top class athletes the most spectacular, being the tossing of the Tillhill Caber.
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